Towel indicator for towel cabinets



Dec. 25, 1934- J. N. BORROUGHS TOWEL INDICATOR FOR TOWEL CABINETS Filed Oct. 24, 1952 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 25, 1934 1,985,228

rao STATES:

1,985,228 v Z TOWEL mmca'roa Fon oaamnrs' Joseph N. Burroughs, Oakland, Application October '24, 1932, Serial aerated-:6

19 claims. (cl. 33-428 5 This invention is a towel indicator for towel hinge members. are secured-to the innerisurface cabinets and is specially directed toan indicating of theba'ck of the cabinet. t g device for indicating substantially the proportion- Telescopicallydisposed on the leg 17, is a sleeve ate diameter of roll, or amount of unused towel 20, the outer 'end of thissleevehaving a ball or 5 remaining in the'usual sanitary towel cabinet other enlarged end 21,,forming an indicating f5, utilizing toweling in roll form. pointer and coincidently'forming ine'ans for re- It is the main object of this invention to protaining the indicator consisting of the tubular videan indicator which will indicate substantialmember 20 and ballfllsecured'tothe door 12, lytheamount of unused toweling or proportionso that when {the door. 12 is opened, the indicator 1o ate diameter of roll remaining in'the cabinet, so is removed from the leg" 17, permitting'convenl0 that proper. provision may bemade for the reient replacement of the roll of toweling 15. As

newal of the roll in ample time before the last is noted, the,.=tnbular memb er,20 is l'separable of the previous roll is used, I from'ltlielleg 17 and due to this member being Another object of the invention is to provide telescopic as related tothelleg 17, the variation such an indicatorvin a position most convenient indistance from the hinge-member 19 tov the for viewing, and to provide means for maintainfrontof the cabinet is compensated for during ingthe relative position of the roll tothe indithe indicating travel of the member 21}. cator as the diameter of the roll decreases. The means for maintaining the roll of toweling Other objects and advantages of the invention in relative position to theindicator 21 consists of will become apparent as the following description a'tubular member25fwhichfisfixedly connected 9 isread on the drawing forming a part ofthe to the tubular member 20 by means of the'cross specification, and in-which similar reference rod 26, and has an integral depending leg 27 characters are used to indicate similar parts projecting diagonally rearward,'and cooperates throughout the several views, of which:- I with the periphery of the roll, urging the roll for-.- 2 5 Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a Ward as the diameter of the roll decreases and 25 towelcabinet with my invention applied thereto; the ball 21 drops downwardly in its slot, the roll Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of. 1; of'toweling. peripherally cooperating through its Fig.3 a'sectionsimilar to that of Fig. 2 exdecrease in diameterwitlfsubstantially the same cept showing the indicator as applied to a partly point on the member .25 wherebyuniform indi- 30 used roll of toweling; a cation is provided. 'Othermeansinay be readily 0 Fig. 4, is a front view of Fig. 3 with the indiprovided, such as slopingthe bottomoi' 'thebasket eating scaleand front of the'cabinet removed; to cause the roll to assume a certain position ir- Fig; 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 2, respective ofwits diameter. 1

The invention is applicable to any type of towel T'h'evmembel zofilidably p te fi a Slo 5 cabinet employing towenngin roll form the Gabi, 22 formed in the front 'of the cabinet, this slot 'net being fragmentarily indicated in the views, inerre l n i rd ve i t p i and consisting of a back 10, top 11, front or door swmgmg: mqtlon of the member 20 h t 12, and sides 13. The towel feeding mechanism gg z g s gififigifiifggg g m rs gz agfig antistatic,titers?setters m of 4O feeding mechanism and the indicator. The towel or enlarged pf the member I I a Secured to'the frontof the cabinet or door, is an cabinet also includes a rack or basket 14 in which indicating scale; 23 whichis provided with a view the roll of toweling 15 is retained. The parts so mg slbt 24, through which the-ban 2145 Clearly far emfmeratfgd and desfmbed do not F t visibldthis viewing slot being suiilciently narrow 45 of the inventlon, exceptm the combination thereto p e t th b ll 21 "passing therethrough, With- I. I whereby a housing is formed, whichin coop'era- Th invention consists of a member which tion with th cabinet forms a retaining member gravitationally cooperates with the periphery of for the enlarged end or ball 21', but which will pera roll-of toweling, and consists preferably of a mit oscillatory movement of the ball 21 for indi- 50 U shaped member having legs 16 and 17 and a dating the remaining toweling' or proportionate connecting member 18 forming the transverse diameter of .the roll 15. Y. 1 v

element of the U shaped member and alsoform- It will be noted'that the leg ldcooperates with .ing a pintle whichv cooperates with the pintle the periphery of the roll. of toweling, when the sleevesw orcooperating hinge ;members 19, which member ,2527- is not provided, that the leg 1'7 is 55 separable fromthe member 17 merely by swinging the door open when provided, and which requires only aligning of-the two devices or elements when the door is being'closed to place the indicator in operation, and that the indicator in no way interferes with the insertion or replacement of a roll of toweling or with the opening ofz-the door. It will be noted also that this indicating element including the members 17 and 20 can be'placed on the outside of the side wall-13- if so desired,

or may be operable through a panel in thefront of the cabinet and that many variations may be made operating on the same principle. r

Where the means 25-27 is provided, these elements cooperate with the rolland "are separable from the leg 16 coincidently with the member 20 from legl'T.

Itwill also be noted thatvariations inconstruction and arrangement of partswhich are consistent with the appended claims, may be resorted to without detracting from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof. l

1. An indicator for a towel cabinet having a slot in the 'front"thereof,comprising a" member gravitationally cooperatingat one point with the periphery of a roll of toweling to indicatethe pro; portionate diameter of the roll and at another point to retain cooperation at the one point during decrease in diameter of the roll, and having an indicating element operating through the slot formed in the front ofjthe' cabinet, said meme her being of U form andhaving one leg cooper-j ating with the roll and the other leg cooperating with the indicating element, the connecting portion forming a supporting elementfor the member.

.2.'An indicator fora towel cabinet having a slot in the front thereof, comprisinga member gravitationally cooperating with the periphery of a roll of toweling and having an indicating element operating through the slot formed in' the front of the cabinet, and an indicating scale in cooperative relation to the indicatingelement,

saidmember being of U form and having one leg cooperating with the roll and the other leg cooperating withthe indicating element, theconnecting portion forming a supporting elementfor the member. n 3.. An- ,.indicator'for a towel cabinet having a slot in. the front thereof, comprising a. member gravitationally cooperating with theperiphery of av roll of toweling and having an indicating element operating through the slot formed 'in', the

front, of the cabinet, said member being hingedly ,mounted within the cabinet and of U' form'with the crossmember. forming the pintle of the'hinge joint, one of the legs'cooperating withtheperiphcry of the roll of toweling and .the other leg cooperating with the indicating element.

4. An indicator-for a toi el cabinet having a slot inthe front'thereof, comprising a member gravitationally cooperating with the periphery of a roll of toweling at twopoints, for indicating the proportionatediameter of the roll and urging the decreasing roll toward the'front of the cabinet, and having an"indi'c'ating element operating through the slot formed in the front of the cabinet, said member being hingedly mounted within the cabinet and of U form with the cross member forming the pintle of the hinge joint, one of the legs cooperating with the periphery of the roll of toweling at the two points and the other leg cooperating with the indicating element.

5. An indicator for a towel cabinet having a slot in the front thereof, comprising a member gravitationally cooperating with the periphery of a roll "of toweling and having an indicating element operating through the slot formed in the front of the cabinet, said indicating element being telescopically disposed on the member and having means for maintaining the indicator in predetermined relation to the front of the cabinet during the indicating travel thereof. 6. An indicator for a towel cabinet having a slot in the front thereof, comprising a member gravitationally cooperating with the periphery of'a roll ,of toweling" and having an indicating element operating through the slot formed in the front ofthe cabinet, said member'being of U form and having one leg cooperating with the roll and the otherleg cooperating with the indicating element, the connecting portion forminga supporting element for'the member, said indicating element being telescopically disposed on the member and having means for maintaining the indicator in predetermined relation to the front of the cabinet during the indicating travel thereof. 7 I

'7. An indicator for a towel cabinet having a slot in the-front thereof, comprising a member gravitationally cooperating with the periphery of a roll of toweling and having an indicating element operating through the slot formed in the front of the cabinet, and'an' indicating scale in cooperative relation to the indicating element, said indicatingelement being telescopically disposed on the member and having means for maintaining the indicator in predetermined relation to'the front of the cabinet during theindicating travel thereof, said means for maintaining the indicator in predetermined relation consisting of an enlargement on the indicator forming a pointer,'said indicating scale coincidently forming a retaining housing for the pointer and having a'viewing' slot for the pointer formed in the front thereof.

8. An indicator for a towel cabinet having a slot in the front thereof, comprising a member gravitationally cooperating with the periphery'of a roll of toweling and having an indicating element operating through the slot formed in the-front of the cabinet, said member being of U form'and having one leg cooperating with the roll and the other leg cooperating with the indicating element, the connecting portion forming a supporting element for the member, said indicating element being telescopically disposed on the member and having means for maintaining the indicator in predetermined relation to the front of the cabinet during the indicating travel thereof, said means for maintaining the indicator in predetermined relation consisting of an enlargement on the in dicator forming a pointer, said indicating scale coincidently forming a retaining housing for the pointer andjhaving a viewing slot for the pointer front of the cabinet, said member being hingedly mounted within the cabinet and of Uform with the cross member forming the pintle of the hinge joint, oneof the legs cooperating with the periphery of theroll of toweling and the other leg cooperating with the indicating element, said indicate ing element being telescopically disposed on the member and having means for maintaining the indicator in predetermined relation to the front of 'thecabinet during the indicating travel thereof, said means for maintaining the indicator in predetermined relation consisting of an enlargement onthe indicator forming a pointer, said indicating scale coincidently forming a retaining housing for the pointer and having a viewing slot for the pointer formed in the front thereof.

' 10. An indicator for a towel cabinet having a slot in the front thereof, comprising a member gravitationally cooperating with the periphery of a roll of toweling and having an indicating element operating through the slot formed in the front of the cabinet, said indicating element being separable from the member when the front of the cabinet is opened, to permit opening of the front of the cabinet and the insertion of a roll of toweling.

11. An indicator for a towel cabinet having a slot in the front thereof, comprising a member gravitationally cooperating with the periphery of a roll of toweling and having an indicating element operating through the slot formed in the front of the cabinet, said member being of U form and having one leg cooperating with the roll and the other leg cooperating with the indicating element, the connecting portion forming a supporting element for the member, said indicating element being separable from the member when the front of the cabinet is opened, to permit opening of the front of the cabinet and the insertion of a roll of toweling.

12. An indicator for a towel cabinet having a slot in the front thereof, comprising a member gravitationally cooperating with the periphery of a roll of toweling and having an indicating element operating through the slot formed in the front of the cabinet, said member being hingedly mounted within the cabinet and of U form with the cross member forming the pintle of the hinge joint, one of the legs cooperating with the periphery of the roll of toweling and the other leg cooperating with the indicating element, said indicating element being separable from the member when the front of the cabinet is opened, to permit opening of the front of the cabinet and the insertion of a roll of toweling.

13. An indicator for a towel cabinet having a slot in the front thereof, comprising a member gravitationally cooperating with the periphery of a roll of toweling and having an indicating element operating through the slot formed in the front of the cabinet, said indicating element being telescopically disposed on the member and having means for maintaining the indicator in predetermined relation to the front of the cabinet during the indicating travel thereof, said indicating element being separable from the member when they front of the cabinet is opened, to permit opening of the front of the cabinet and the insertion of a roll of toweling.

14. An indicator for a towel cabinet having a slot in the front thereof, comprising a member gravitationally cooperating with the periphery of a roll of toweling and having an indicating element operating through the slot formed in the front of the cabinet, said member being of U form and having one leg cooperating with the roll and the other leg cooperating with the men eating element, the connecting portion forming a supporting element for the member, said indi eating element being telescopically-disposed on the member and having means-formaintaining f;

the indicator in predetermined relation to the front of the cabinet during theindicating travel thereof, said indicating elementbeing separable from the member'when the front of the cabinet'is opened, to permit opening' of the front of the'cabinet and the insertion of a roll of toweling,

' 15. An indicator'for a towel cabinet having a slot in the front thereof, comprising a member gravitationally cooperating with the periphery of a roll of toweling and having an indicating element operating through the slot formed inthe said indicating scale coincidently forming a re-,

taining housing for the pointer and having a viewing slot for the pointer formed in the front thereof, said indicating element being separable from the member when the front of the cabinet is opened, -to permit opening of the front of the cabinet and the insertion of a roll of toweling.

16. An indicator fora towel cabinet having a slot in the front thereof, comprising a member gravitationally cooperating with the periphery of a-roll of toweling and having an indicating element operating through'the slot formed in the front of the cabinet, said member being of U form and having one leg cooperating with the roll and the other leg cooperating with the indicating element, the connecting portion forming a supporting element for the member, said indicating element being telescopically disposed on the member and having means for maintaining the indicator in predetermined relation to the front of the cabinet during the indicating travel thereof, said means for maintaining the indicator in predetermined relation consisting of an enlargement on the indicator forming a pointer, said indicating scale coincidently forming a retaining housing for'the pointer and having a viewing slot for the pointer formed in the front thereof, said indicating element being separable from the member when the front of the cabinet is opened, to permit opening of the front of the cabinet and the insertion of a roll of toweling.

17. An indicator for a towel cabinet havinga slot in the front thereof, comprising a member gravitationally cooperating with the periphery of a roll of toweling and having an indicating element operating through the slot formed in the front of the cabinet, said member being hingedly mounted within the cabinet and of U form with the cross member forming the pintle of the hinge joint, one of the legs cooperating with the periphery of the roll of toweling and the other leg cooperating with the indicating element, said indicating element being telescopically disposed on the member and having means for maintaining the indicator in predetermined relation to the front of the cabinet during the indicating travel thereof, said means for maintaining the indicator in predetermined relation consisting of an enlargement on the indicator forming a pointer, said indicating scale coincidently forming a rethereof, said indicating element being separable from the member when the front of the cabinet isopened, to permit opening of the front of the cabinet and the insertion of. a roll of toweling.

1 18. An indicator for a towel cabinet having a slot; in thefront thereof, consisting of a U,- shaped member hingedly secured to the rear wall of the cabinet and having a leg thereof extending forwardly andsupported upona roll of towels in said cabinet, another leg of said member extending-forwardly and protruding through said slot. 19. An indicator for a towel cabinet having a slotin the front thereof, consistingof a U-shaped member hingedly secured to the rear wall of the cabinetand having a leg thereof extending forwardly and supported upon a roll of towels in said cabinet another leg .of said member extending forwardly substantially in parallel with said first named-leg, and a telescopically connected extension to said last named leg and protrudinginto 10 said 1030;; t I e a JOSEPH RBQRROUGHS. 

